Manga Like R.O.D: Yomiko Readman "The Paper"

A tale—a "ghostory" of sorts—revolving around scars that forge connections, monsters that linger, and fakes that trick. Koyomi Araragi's story begins with a chance meeting with an immensely powerful, blonde-haired vampire described as "hot-blooded, iron-blooded, and cold-blooded," later revealed as Shinobu Oshino. This tragic encounter ends Araragi's human life and brings about his rebirth as a vampire—a monster. Yet that meeting is merely the start of his entanglements with the supernatural. His noble disposition draws him deeper into the lives of others afflicted by paranormal phenomena. This is his desperate struggle to reclaim a normal human existence within an abnormal world filled solely with tragedy, suffering, and inhumanity. This entry covers the first season of the Monogatari Series.

Koyomi Araragi is well acquainted with the unnatural. Over spring break of his third year in high school, he becomes a vampire after a fateful run-in with the vampire Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. Plunged into a world of aberrations, Araragi one day catches classmate Hitomi Senjougahara as she tumbles down the school stairs—but something feels off. When Senjougahara confronts him, he discovers her weight was taken by a mythical crab. Despite her blunt threats, Araragi persuades her to let him assist. Seeking a remedy for this abnormal issue, the pair visit the enigmatic Meme Oshino, the wanderer who once freed Araragi from his own vampirism. Bakemonogatari is a story about the monsters lurking inside everyone, but just how deep do they hide within the people Araragi encounters?

High school student Yuugi Mutou spends his days being picked on by bullies between classes and his nights playing board games and solving puzzles in his bedroom. His love for games comes from his grandfather, who runs a game shop that also serves as their home. One night, Yuugi finally solves the Millennium Puzzle, an almost impossible challenge that releases his inner darkness and gives rise to a second personality: Yami Yuugi. When under extreme stress, Yuugi involuntarily transforms into this more daring and dangerous alter ego, and he begins operating as a vengeful vigilante, challenging bullies and wrongdoers to high-stakes games where losing leads to fates worse than death. Yuugi and his dark side befriend some of the very students who once tormented him, forming unbreakable bonds with them. However, the group must face off against foes far more dangerous than schoolyard thugs—enemies who use games for evil purposes and threaten the lives of Yuugi and his friends.

A cyborg vampire named Charley performs the Vatican's dirty deeds while serving as the thrall of Johnny Rayflo, a playboy vampire. The pair combat crime and clash with each other, resulting in comedy, violence, and sacrilege. Charley fights his own overwhelming thirst for blood. Together, they confront a childlike vampire princess, a dubious sect of the Unitarian Church, and each other. This edition features the one-shot "Volume 2: Zoul Half."

Ginji Amano is a cool, pragmatic, and hip blonde who can generate electric currents with his body like an electric eel. Ban Mido is an equally hip brunette, bespectacled and rambunctious, who possesses the mystically enigmatic "Evil Eye," granting him the ability to create illusions in the minds of his opponents. Together, they form the GetBackers, the premier retrieval team in the world. They can recover anything taken from their clients, boasting a success rate of (almost) 100%! Yet first, they need to land some clients—and soon—or this lively detective pair will end up starving on the streets!

A collection of Kuroshitsuji one-shots chapters by various manga artists.

The American Old West sets the stage for the planet's most monumental race. A massive crowd gathers in San Diego as thousands prepare to journey more than six thousand kilometers, competing for the fifty-million-dollar grand prize. Since the age of the horse is drawing to a close, participants may employ any type of vehicle. Racers must survive harsh conditions, covering up to one hundred kilometers daily across unexplored desert lands. The Steel Ball Run is an unparalleled competition. Young Johnny Joestar, a former horse racer now confined to a wheelchair, arrives in San Diego just to see the race commence. There he meets Gyro Zeppeli, a competitor who carries two steel spheres at his hip rather than a firearm. Johnny watches as Gyro uses one sphere to generate a supernatural effect, forcing a man in a standoff to turn his gun on himself. During the commotion, Johnny accidentally touches the steel ball and experiences energy flowing into his legs, enabling him to stand for the first time in two years. Determined to uncover the mystery behind the steel balls, Johnny joins the race, launching his bizarre journey across America in the Steel Ball Run.

In a world buried under eternal snow and ice, civilization teeters on collapse because of the elusive Ice Witch. The struggle against the freezing cold has driven humanity to its worst extremes—cults, violence, and persecution of the Blessed, individuals born with supernatural abilities. Orphans Agni and Luna, both Blessed with the power of regeneration, try to live peacefully among a small community of elders. Their love for each other provides a brief respite from the lethal climate. But their fragile peace shatters when army commander Doma passes through and sets their refuge village ablaze, killing everyone including Luna. Doma's cursed flames never die until their victim is completely consumed; Agni’s regeneration keeps him perpetually burning, enduring unimaginable agony. After nearly ten years of suffering, Agni has learned to withstand Doma’s fire. Yet his thirst for vengeance burns just as intensely as the day Luna died. Traveling across a frozen wasteland, he swears to kill Doma and avenge his sister.

After being harshly turned down, Momo Ayase is brooding when she comes across a boy being picked on. Her impulsive kindness saves him, and the occult-obsessed boy tries to talk to her about supernatural interests he thinks they share. Dismissing his claims, Ayase declares she believes in ghosts instead, sparking a quarrel over which is real. To settle the debate, they agree to separately investigate locations tied to the occult and the supernatural—Ayase heading to the former and the boy to the latter. When they reach their chosen spots, they discover neither was wrong: both the occult and ghosts truly exist. This kicks off Ayase and the boy's journey, as they strive to resolve the bizarre, supernatural, and occult phenomena around them in order to return to a normal life.

In 2011, Yasuho Hirose and Joushuu Higashikata, who grew up together as friends, find a naked man buried in the ground on the outskirts of Morioh. The man cannot recall his name or anything from his past life; the only thing he remembers is how to use his Stand, a supernatural power that manifests as a humanoid figure. The stranger is soon named Jousuke, and Joushuu's father, Norisuke, chooses to take him into the Higashikata household until he can locate his own residence. As Jousuke starts looking into his history, it becomes clear that he is no typical amnesiac. His true identity holds far more than he initially realized, and when he is forced into intense Stand confrontations, he gradually uncovers a deadly scheme that involves the entire town.

Hidden in the English countryside is the eerie estate of the Phantomhive family, known as the cold and ruthless "Queen's Watchdog" as well as the head of London's underworld. After a tragedy kills the Earl and his wife, many are surprised when their young son, Ciel, takes over as the new Earl of the Phantomhive house. Initially, he is seen as just a child with odd servants, but people soon learn it is unwise to challenge Ciel and his demonic butler, Sebastian. Set in the late 19th century, Kuroshitsuji follows the pair as they confront countless mysteries and dangers that torment England and threaten the Queen, all while uncovering the truth behind Ciel's parents' death.

Seventeen years ago, immortal soldiers called divine warriors appeared on African battlefields. These entities, later named Ajin or demi-humans, were hailed as one of humanity's most significant discoveries. Officially, the government declared them compatible with humans, but rumors persist that bounties are placed on captured Ajin so that they can be subjected to secret, inhumane experiments. Kei Nagai, an indifferent high school student studying to become a doctor, only wants a normal life. That simple desire shatters when he is caught in a fatal traffic accident. Revived at the scene, he is instantly branded an Ajin by witnesses eager for the reward. Unable to grasp his own immortality or prove his innocence, Kei goes on the run, fighting to survive. He barely evades government capture when a group of anarchistic Ajin reaches out, urging him to join their forces and strike back against the government. As the conflict between humans and Ajin escalates, Kei must decide who his true enemy is and which side he will choose.

Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama, an eighth-grader, possesses extraordinary psychic abilities. Yet he chooses to conceal these powers in public because of their destructive and attention-grabbing nature. To keep his skills sharp, Mob works under Arataka Reigen, a self-proclaimed esper who takes advantage of Mob's talents. Together, Mob spends his days exorcising evil spirits at Reigen's request. Driven by a simple desire to win the admiration of his childhood friend Tsubomi Takane, Mob strives to become more appealing. However, troubles constantly disrupt his everyday life, gradually breaking the lid on his suppressed emotions. As his pent-up feelings intensify, it is uncertain what will happen when he finally reaches his breaking point.

At Suzaku High, Ryuu Yamada is well-known as a troublemaker and a delinquent. After getting scolded for his bad grades and attitude, he spots Urara Shiraishi, the top student in their grade. As Shiraishi climbs the stairs, Yamada tries to rile her up but trips and falls, pulling her down with him. When he wakes up in the infirmary, he realizes he's in someone else's body—he has swapped places with Shiraishi. Confronting her, he learns that the accidental kiss during the fall caused the swap. Armed with this newfound power, Yamada's chaotic high school life is only beginning.

Ishiyama High is infamous as a school for delinquents—no one in their right mind picks a fight with an Ishi-high student. Among them, first-year Tatsumi Oga stands out, earning the nickname "Demon King" from everyone he has beaten down. One day, after finishing off a gang that jumped him, Oga stumbles upon an infant. Acting on a rare impulse of kindness, he tries to look after the baby, only for the child to become deeply attached to him. Panicked, Oga takes the baby to his best friend Takayuki Furuichi's house. There, they are confronted by Hildegard, a demon maid who reveals that the infant is actually Kaiser de Emperana Beelzebub IV. She explains that the baby was sent to Earth on a whim by his father, Beelzebub III, the Great Demon Lord of the Demon World, with the mission to destroy humanity. When Oga fails to get rid of Baby Beel, Hildegard informs him that he must raise the child—because moving more than 15 meters away will cause Oga's instant death. Despite his rough delinquent past and unfriendly demeanor, Oga must take on the burden of caring for a demon baby. Beezelbub follows his story as he deals with encounters with demons and dangerous classmates, all while serving as an unorthodox role model and caretaker for young Baby Beel.

From a white coffin inside an abandoned building in South Korea, Cadis Etrama Di Raizel—often called Rai—awakens, an incredibly elegant and noble being of striking beauty. Finding himself in an unfamiliar era, Rai seeks out his trusted ally, Frankenstein. To start blending into human society, he changes his old-fashioned attire into the neat school blazer of nearby Ye Ran High School, where the principal turns out to be his loyal servant, Frankenstein. Having slept for the past 820 years, Rai relies on Frankenstein to help him navigate the modern world. Frankenstein thus enrolls him as a student to let him experience everyday life and understand contemporary society. However, Frankenstein's plans quickly unravel—not only due to the challenges of modern living, but also because of lingering conflicts from both his and his master's troubled past. With no alternative, Rai is forced to wield his mysterious powers to protect those dear to him.

Kazuki Hoshino treasures his mundane routine above anything else. He spends his school days carefree with his friends, until that uneventful bliss is shattered when the aloof beauty Aya Otonashi transfers into his class and immediately delivers a cold, dramatic statement to him: "I've come to break you. This is my 13,118th transfer. After so many times, it's starting to grate on me, so this time I'm spicing things up with a proper declaration of war." With those puzzling words, the ordinary days Kazuki loved so much become a cycle of turmoil and fear—Aya's sudden appearance signals the unraveling of unseen mysteries surrounding his seemingly normal friends, including the discovery of strange devices known as "boxes."

Atsushi Nakajima is near death after being thrown out of his orphanage. With no food and no place to stay, all hope seems lost—until he rescues a mysterious man named Osamu Dazai from drowning. Despite annoyance from his colleague Doppo Kunikida, Dazai feeds Atsushi and explains they belong to the Armed Detective Agency, a group of gifted individuals handling criminal cases the authorities can't solve. The two ask for Atsushi's help tracking down a supernatural tiger terrorizing the city, and he reluctantly goes along. Once the case is closed, Dazai offers him a job at the agency. But things turn more perilous when the Port Mafia, the local crime syndicate, starts moving against them. Stuck in the middle of a turf war, Atsushi must master his newfound special ability to protect himself, his new allies, and the whole city.

After his parents died, high school student Kimihiro Watanuki lives by himself and possesses the ability to see supernatural creatures that are drawn to him. These spirits constantly harass him, and he desperately wants to be free from this burden. One day, while being pursued by a swarm of these entities, he stumbles into a strange shop seeking refuge. There he encounters Yuuko Ichihara, the store's owner, who claims she can fulfill any wish. She offers to grant Kimihiro's desire, provided he pays a suitable price. Consequently, Kimihiro starts working at her shop to earn the compensation needed for his wish. Under Yuuko's guidance, he must immerse himself deeper into the world of spirits and the occult before he can eventually leave it behind. How will he cope with the mysterious encounters that lie ahead?

Fourteen-year-old delinquent Yuusuke Urameshi wastes his days cutting class and antagonizing the adults around him. He frequently gets into street fights with his rival Kazuma Kuwabara and mocks his childhood friend Keiko Yukimura. Burdened by self-hatred and the weight of an alcoholic mother, Yuusuke makes a split-second decision—he shoves a small child out of the path of an oncoming car, sacrificing his own life. Spirit guide Botan steps in, letting Yuusuke witness how those he left behind react to his death; he is deeply affected by the devastation his loss inflicts on his mother, Keiko, and even Kuwabara. Furthermore, because his death was heroic, he is given a second chance at life by Koenma, the son of the Spirit World ruler. Koenma recruits Yuusuke as a "Spirit Detective" and assigns him to solve a string of increasingly difficult paranormal cases. Fighting and eventually forming bonds with demons like the elegant Kurama and the aggressive Hiei, Yuusuke hones his combat abilities. However, as sinister forces emerge from the Underworld, Yuusuke stands with his allies to protect the things he once took for granted.

Shamans are extraordinary beings who can communicate with ghosts, spirits, and gods—entities invisible to ordinary people. Every five hundred years, the Shaman Fight, a prestigious tournament that pits shamans from around the globe against one another, takes place. The victor is crowned Shaman King, a title that allows the winner to command the Great Spirit and reshape the world as they wish. One night, Manta Oyamada, an ordinary middle school student, is late for class and decides to cut through the local cemetery. A lone boy sitting on a gravestone notices him and invites Manta to stargaze with "them." Realizing "them" refers to the boy and his ghostly companions, Manta panics and runs away. Later, the boy introduces himself as You Asakura, a Shaman-in-training, and proves his abilities by partnering with the ghost of a six-hundred-year-old samurai named Amidamaru to rescue Manta from a gang of thugs. You befriends Manta because of his ability to see spirits, and alongside Amidamaru, they set off to achieve You's goal: becoming the next Shaman King.

Negi Springfield, a ten-year-old wizard who has just graduated from Merdiana Magic Academy in Wales, has two goals: locating his missing father, the legendary Thousand Master, and becoming a Magister Magi—a wizard who aids the ordinary world with magic. To achieve this second objective, he receives one final task: teaching English at a Japanese middle school. To his shock and dismay, he discovers that his homeroom class consists of thirty-one girls, and he accidentally reveals his magical identity to one of them, Asuna Kagurazaka. Now forced to come to terms with her knowledge, Negi must work to keep his secret safe while dealing with magical threats emerging both inside and outside Mahora Academy, all while continuing his search for his lost father.

Park Hyung Suk has spent all 17 years of his life at the bottom of the social ladder. Short, overweight, and unattractive, he is accustomed to being tormented by his classmates and facing constant discrimination because of his appearance. Hoping to get away from his worst bully, Lee Tae Sung, he decides to transfer to Seoul's Jae Won High School, a vocational school known for its relaxed policies and carefree student body. Just a few days before his transfer, Hyung Suk wakes up to discover he is no longer in his usual chubby body. Instead, he now possesses a perfect physique—tall, handsome, and well-toned—the ideal version of himself. The catch is that his original body is still lying next to him, and whenever one body falls asleep, he wakes up in the other. Now in possession of two wildly different bodies, Hyung Suk must learn to handle his newfound popularity at J High while also uncovering the mystery behind where his second, almost superhuman body came from.

The story picks up a few months after the end of the first season. Youkai Gakuen has been rebuilt, and the new semester is underway. Tsukune and his group return, now more powerful than ever. The true identity of Anti-Thesis is revealed. New enemies appear on the horizon, along with something far more sinister than anything the gang has faced before. Tsukune struggles with the monster growing inside him. With help from Moka, Mizore, Kurumu, Ruby, and Yukari, he trains to control his vampire blood and gain the strength to protect what he cares about. This season focuses more on the girls, their pasts, and their families. New confrontations lie ahead. New friends and allies will join them. Together, they will uncover the secrets of Moka's rosary and her lineage.